Play Kitarou Online

Kitarou is a Game Boy game from 1990, developed and published by Bandai. It arrived early in the handheld's life, a time when developers were still exploring what worked on the small screen. The game is based on the spooky manga and anime series GeGeGe no Kitarou, so you step into the role of the one-eyed yokai boy himself.

You control Kitarou as he moves through side-scrolling stages, fighting other yokai. Your main goal is to defeat the stage boss and progress. You attack by throwing your detached, bouncing hair needle, a unique projectile that you can aim. You also collect power-ups that change your hair needle's properties, like making it spread into multiple shots. The game is methodical; you clear enemies screen by screen, and the challenge comes from learning enemy patterns and managing your limited attack range. It feels like a careful, deliberate hunt through a world of Japanese folklore.